DNA aptamers have been studied since their inception in 1990, but have only targeted membrane and serum proteins in therapeutics. Their potential as inhibitors of protein function is hampered by their inability to efficiently enter cells in order to function. Surmounting this hurdle is worthwhile since the inhibition of protein-protein interactions is not achievable by small molecule pharmaceuticals alone. Herein we target an intracellular ubiquitin ligase WWP1, which is known to complex with Schnurri3 and polyubiquitinate Runx2, thus targeting it for proteosomal destruction. Since Runx2 is the key transcriptional regulator of osteoblast differentiation, WWP1 inhibition may encourage osteoblast differentiation, and by extension force bone deposition in osteoporosis sufferers. By targeting WWP1 we attempt to intervene in intracellular protein interactions with an aptamer for the first time. To begin this effort we cloned, expressed, and purified three functionally important truncations of WWP1. The final protein pools were highly concentrated above 2 mg/mL, approximately 95% pure, and were found to be acceptably soluble after assessment in various buffers. DNA aptamers were then selected against these WWP1 truncations using the established SELEX method while monitoring the progression of the enrichment with PCR. After 12 selection rounds of increasing stringency, pools were sequenced and assessed for homogeneity and secondary structure. Several groups of enriched and identical DNA sequences were obtained with no obvious pattern in secondary structure seen between them. While focusing on sequences specific for the active site containing C-lobe, we then evaluated the aptamers for their ability to bind key functional regions of WWP1 and inhibit its function as an enzyme. For the most potent aptamer from the C-lobe pool, an Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay (EMSA) estimated a Ki of around 2 μM. Furthermore, a HECT ubiquitin ligase activity assay was developed to evaluate inhibition, and an IC50 of around 100 μM was found for the most inhibitory of three C-lobe aptamers. This aptamer was then transfected into SaOS-2 osteoblastic cells so that localization could be assessed with fluorescence microscopy. Surprisingly, both the C-lobe specific aptamer and a control sequence were found to enter the cells with or without the employment of transfection reagent. Moreover, approximately 60% migrated to the nucleus and remained there over a period of days, which implies diffusion through the Nuclear Pore Complex. Taken together, this work introduces an alternative approach to disease therapy by targeting intracellular proteins with aptamers, and may have significant implications for expanding the therapeutic applications of nucleic acid aptamers in the future. / published_or_final_version / Biochemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

CCN protein family members (CYR61, CTGF, Nov, Wisp-1, Wisp-2 and Wisp-3) have important roles in many different processes including angiogenesis, inflammation, remodelling of extracellular matrix and tumorigenesis. In bone, CCN1 increases osteoblastogenesis via Wnt3A signalling and activation of -catenin which, in turn, upregulates CCN1 expression. The exact role of CCN1, CCN2, and CCN6 in osteoclast physiology are not known but we have recently shown that recombinant human (rh)CCN1 inhibits osteoclastogenesis in vitro. The aim of this study was to determine: 1) the expressions of all six members of the CCN protein family in osteoblasts and osteoclasts; 2) the functions of recombinant human CCN2, CCN6 in osteoclastogenesis; 3) whether osteoblast-derived CCN1 may mediate the effect of CCN1 on osteoclast formation and the roles of osteoblast-derived CCN1 and/or osteoclast-derived CCN1 in osteoblast and/or osteoclast differentiation; 4) which signalling pathways are involved in the function of CCN1 in osteoclasts and osteoblasts. We found CCN1-5 but not CCN6 expressed in murine osteoclasts and osteoblasts. All six members were expressed in human OA osteoblasts but only CCN1-3 were detected in human osteoclasts using quantitative RT-PCR. rhCCN1 (in agreement with our previous observations), and also 2 and 6 inhibited human and mouse osteoclast formation in a concentration-dependent manner. We generated and validated an expression construct to specifically overexpress CCN1 in osteoblasts. Incorporation of CCN1-specific siRNA reduced CCN1 expression to between 12.5% and 50% of control osteoblast cultures. In both co-cultures with direct contact between osteoblasts and osteoclast co-cultures as well as Transwell cultures, overexpression of CCN1 in osteoblasts decreased the formation of TRAP positive multinucleated osteoclast-like cells, while siRNA mediated knockdown of CCN1 in the osteoblasts resulted in increased osteoclast-like cell formation. These data suggest that osteoblast-derived CCN1 is a secreted negative regulator of osteoclastogenesis. Moreover, overexpression or knockdown of CCN1 in osteoclast precursors inhibited or increased osteoclast differentiation whilst overexpression or knockdown CCN1 in osteoblasts increased or inhibited osteoblast mineralization respectively. Further investigation found that CCN1 increased Wnt and MAPK signalling in osteoblasts cultured in mineralization medium and inhibited Wnt and IGF-1 signalling during osteoclast differentiation. In conclusion, paracrine and autocrine effects of CCN1 have been demonstrated in osteoclasts and osteoblasts in this study and Wnt, MAPK, amd IGF-1 signalling pathways, may be involved in these effects.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, 2007. / Prepared for: Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Bibliography: leaves 132 - 149.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Aberdeen University, 2009. / Title from web page (viewed on Jan. 5, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

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Orientador: Paulo Tambasco de Oliveira / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-26T15:44:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Teixeira_LucasNovaes_D.pdf: 3520593 bytes, checksum: e42a5497740bc09fe80b9a6a035947df (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: O carcinoma espinocelular (CEC) oral representa a neoplasia maligna mais prevalente das estruturas bucais, podendo invadir o tecido ósseo e promover sua reabsorção em até 56% dos casos. A expressão da proteína matricelular osteopontina (OPN) tem sido relacionada a uma maior agressividade de neoplasias malignas, incluindo o CEC oral. No tecido ósseo, a OPN representa a proteína mais abundante da matriz não colágena, concentrada nas interfaces ósseas, i.e. lâminas limitantes, linhas de cimentação e reversas, sendo essencial para adesão e funções de osteoblastos e osteoclastos. Apesar de no microambiente tumoral a OPN estar associada a um fenótipo neoplásico mais agressivo, ainda não está estabelecido o papel da OPN secretada por osteoblastos sobre células neoplásicas derivadas de CEC oral e o impacto sobre osteoclastos. O presente estudo teve como objetivos avaliar a expressão de OPN em sistemas de coculturas de células osteoblásticas e epiteliais neoplásicas malignas humanas e os efeitos da expressão de OPN secretada por osteoblastos sobre o fenótipo neoplásico in vitro. Adicionalmente, avaliou-se o efeito das coculturas sobre a atividade osteoclástica. Células epiteliais neoplásicas malignas derivadas de CEC oral (SCC9) foram plaqueadas sobre membranas de Transwell®, recobertas ou não por uma camada fina e uniforme de Matrigel, e cocultivadas com células osteoblásticas (SAOS-2) durante seu pico de expressão de OPN (10o dia de cultura). Células SCC9 expostas a culturas SAOS-2 silenciadas para OPN por RNA de interferência (RNAi) e células SCC9 cultivadas isoladamente foram usadas como controles. Após 24 h de cocultivo, células SCC9 foram avaliadas, quantitativamente, para adesão, proliferação, migração e invasão de Matrigel. A atividade de osteoclastos derivados de células monocíticas U-937 foi avaliada, quantitativamente, por meio dos ensaios de reabsorção de fosfato cálcio e de dosagem de citocinas em eluentes obtidos de células SCC9 e SAOS-2 após o cocultivo durante o pico de OPN ou com o seu silenciamento. A análise estatística foi realizada pelo teste não-paramétrico de Kruskal-Wallis (p < 0,05). Os resultados indicaram indução recíproca na expressão de OPN em SAOS-2 e SCC9 em cocultura. A OPN secretada por células SAOS-2 afetou o fenótipo de culturas SCC9, promovendo a adesão e a proliferação celulares e a invasão de Matrigel, a qual também estava aumentada, mas em menor intensidade, com o silenciamento para OPN. A migração celular não foi afetada. O cocultivo com SAOS-2, principalmente durante o pico de OPN, resultou na sobre-expressão das citocinas IL 6 e IL 8 pelas células SCC9, aumentando a capacidade de células osteoclásticas em reabsorver fosfato de cálcio. Conjuntamente, esses resultados sugerem que a OPN derivada de osteoblastos afeta as interações entre células epiteliais neoplásicas malignas, osteoblastos e osteoclastos, possivelmente contribuindo para a progressão de lesões ósseas do CEC oral / Abstract: The oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most prevalent malignant neoplasm of the oral structures. It may invade bone in up to 56% of the cases and promote osteoclast-mediated bone extracellular matrix (ECM) resorption. Expression of the matricellular protein osteopontin (OPN) in malignant neoplasms, including OSCC, has been positively correlated with aggressive tumor behavior. OPN is the most abundant non collagenous ECM protein in bone, where it preferentially accumulates at interfaces, including cement lines, laminae limitantes and reversal lines, being essential for the adhesion and function of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. Despite the importance attributed to OPN in the tumor microenvironment, indicative of more aggressive neoplastic phenotypes, the effects of osteoblast-derived OPN on OSCC cells and on OSCC-induced osteoclast activity are still not fully understood. The present in vitro study aimed to evaluate temporal expression of OPN in cocultures of human osteoblastic cells and malignant neoplastic epithelial cells and the effects of osteoblast-derived OPN on the neoplastic cell phenotype. Additionally, the effects of cocultures on osteoclastic activity were evaluated. Human OSCC-derived epithelial cells (SCC9 cell line) were plated on Transwell® membranes coated or not by a thin uniform layer of Matrigel and cocultured with human osteoblastic cells (SAOS-2 cell line) during its peak of OPN expression (day 10 of SAOS-2 culture). SCC9 cells exposed to OPN-silenced SAOS-2 cultures by means of interference RNA and SCC9 cells cultured alone were used as controls. At 24 h of coculture, SCC9 cells were quantitatively evaluated for cell adhesion, proliferation, migration and invasion of Matrigel. The impact of coculturing SCC9 and SAOS-2 cells either during the OPN peak expression or under the silencing of OPN was quantitatively evaluated in terms of calcium phosphate resorption by U-937-derived osteoclastic cells and expression of cytokines in the culture medium by ELISA assay. The statistical analyses were carried out using the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test (p < 0.05). The results showed a reciprocal induction of SAOS-2 and SCC9 cells in terms of OPN expression over the coculture interval. SAOS-2-secreted OPN altered the SCC9 cell phenotype, leading to enhanced cell adhesion and proliferation and higher Matrigel invasion, which was also enhanced, but to a lesser degree, by SAOS-2 cultures silenced for OPN. Cell migration was not affected. Cocultures with SAOS-2, mainly during the peak expression of OPN, resulted in overexpression of IL 6 and IL 8 by SCC9 cells, which corresponded with an enhanced resorptive capacity of osteoclastic cells. Taken together, the results suggest that osteoblast-derived OPN affects the interactions among malignant neoplastic epithelial cells, osteoblasts and osteoclasts, likely contributing to the progression of bone lesions in OSCC / Doutorado / Patologia / Doutor em Estomatopatologia

Osteoblastic cells respond to mechanical stimuli with alterations in proliferation and/or phenotypic expression. In some cases, these responses occur within only a few applications of stimuli (i.e. 'cycle-dependent trigger response') rather than in a dose-dependent manner. To explore potential mechanisms of the cycle dependent trigger response, we raised the following questions: (1) Does strain of bone cells alter gene expression; if so, how quickly does it occur and how long does it last? (2) Are alterations in message level strain magnitude dependent? (3) Are alterations in steady-state message levels cycle dependent? Cultures were evaluated for osteocalcin mRNA one week following a daily stretch application at four stretch magnitudes and four cycle numbers and compared to nonstretched controls. Steady state mRNA message was ascertained prior to and at 10, 20, 30, 60, 120, 180, and 240 min following initiation of stretch. Following mRNA isolation, first strand cDNA synthesis was performed and fluorometrically quantitated. A reverse transcriptase based PCR (RT-PCR) approach allowed assessment of osteocalcin mRNA levels from microcultures (50,000 cells per 10 μl culture or 5000 cells mm2) of rat calvarial osteoblasts. Optimized PCR was performed using primers to the bone specific protein, osteocalcin (OC) and two 'housekeeping' genes, β-actin and GAP-DH. PCR products were separated on 4% agarose gels and band intensities digitized with relative quantitation based on internal standards in each gel. The lowest magnitude of stretch (-1 KPa) at 1800 cycles per day reproducibly depressed message for osteocalcin, but not β-actin when assayed immediately following the cessation of strain application. By three hours following the initiation of stretch, message levels returned to control values. At the time of stretch cessation, the 1800 cycle stretch regimen diminished (p < 0.0001) steady-state osteocalcin message independently of the four stretch magnitudes. Stretch for 300 cycles failed to depress (p = 0.05) osteocalcin message cultures at any time, but 600 cycles depressed message by 30 min. By one and two hours, cultures stretched 600, 900, and 1800 cycles showed similar levels of message depression. Four hours following the initiation of stretch, message levels returning to nonstrained levels in all groups. We conclude that alterations in cell response to strain are in part mediated by gene expression, that alterations last 3-4 h in this system, and that the message mechanism itself exhibits a triggerresponse dependency to cycle number.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / This is the first in a series of experiments designed to investigate the effect of local and systemic factors on osteoblast histogenesis in rats. A soft diet is an experimental means thought to decrease the overall mechanical loading (a local factor) on the masticatory apparatus. Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three equally sized groups: 1) an experimental group, which was maintained on a soft paste diet; 2) a control group, pair fed with the experimental group; and 3) a control group fed ad libitum. Both control groups continued to eat standard Purina rat chow pellets. Twenty-three days later all animals were injected subcutaneously with 1.0 μCi/ g tritiated thymidine and sacrificed one hour later. The maxillae of the animals were dissected and sectioned. The periodontal ligament (PDL) of the mesial surface of the mesial root of the first molar was analyzed microscopically 110 μm above and below the mid root area. Nuclear size was used to determine the stage of osteoblast differentiation. The labeling index was used to determine the proliferative activity of the cells. The distance of cells from the nearest major blood vessel (NMBV) was measured and the cells were grouped into one to four extravascular zones. For each zone, cell density was determined. PDL widths were measured to evaluate tooth function. If osteogenesis is due primarily to stress and strain on bones, then rats maintained on the soft diet should show a decreased labeling index, increased number of A and A' cells, decreased number of C and D cells, and an unaltered vascularly-oriented cell density gradient. The number of osteoblastic precursor cells (A and A' cells) close to blood vessels should increase relative to the number of preosteoblastic cells (C and D) further from the vessels. Also, the width of the PDL space in the soft diet rats should be narrower since their function was decreased. The results of this study did not support the hypothesis that a decrease in masticatory stress and strain within the rat periodontal ligament due to softened dietary consistency reduces osteoblast histogenesis. No differences were seen in the PDL widths or the vascularly-oriented cell density gradient between groups. High levels of A+A' cells were seen paravascularly for all groups, and their relative numbers decreased as one moved away from the blood vessel into a lower cell density area, supporting previous studies. No differences were seen in the fractional distribution of A+A' cells or C+D cells between groups, as was hypothesized, except for a higher level of A+A' cells in the pair fed group across all zones. This latter finding was probably due to physiologic variation and the small sample sizes used in this study. Decreased masticatory stress and strain due to a softened diet did not reduce osteoblast histogenesis. Further research needs to investigate systemic factors which may influence bone formation.